Montreal Underwater Turbines: A Hydroelectricity Revolution?

Underwater hydrokinetic turbines could return to the St. Lawrence River near Montreal’s Old Port more than a decade after a previous pilot project ended, with ARECOR Energy proposing a nine-turbine array and Hydro-Québec conditionally agreeing to purchase a portion of the output. According to ARECOR Chief Executive Imad Hamad, the $84-million venture aims to test a redesigned turbine utilizing magnetic bearings to eliminate mechanical friction, though environmental analysts and municipal officials emphasize that significant regulatory, economic, and ecological hurdles remain before the riverbed machinery becomes a permanent fixture.

ARECOR Energy Proposes Nine-Turbine Array Near Montreal Old Port

ARECOR Energy plans to install nine hydrokinetic turbines in the St. Lawrence River across two distinct phases, according to company projections. Chief executive Imad Hamad stated that the initial two turbines will go into the water in 2027, with the remaining seven deployments scheduled for the following year. Each machine carries a capacity of approximately half a megawatt. ARECOR estimates that a single turbine can generate electricity equivalent to the consumption of roughly 250 homes.

To support the initial rollout, Hydro-Québec signed a power purchase agreement covering a maximum capacity of one megawatt, matching the output of the first phase. However, Hydro-Québec clarified that the agreement does not constitute project approval. Utility officials stated the corporation will only purchase the electricity if the turbines are successfully installed and all mandatory regulatory authorizations are secured.

How St. Lawrence River Hydrokinetic Turbines Generate Electricity

Hydrokinetic systems operate on principles similar to wind turbines, utilizing moving water rather than air to drive power generation. As the natural current of the St. Lawrence flows through each submerged device, it turns a rotor linked to a generator. Submarine cables then transmit the generated electricity to onshore equipment before feeding it directly into the regional power grid.

Highlighting the structural differences from traditional infrastructure, Imad Hamad noted that the setup requires no dam, reservoir, or wider river blockage. According to ARECOR, the steady flow of the St. Lawrence also yields more consistent power generation than weather-dependent wind or solar installations. The Old Port location was selected specifically for its strong current, adequate depth, and existing proximity to grid connection infrastructure.

Lessons From the 2010 RER Hydro Pilot Project

The latest proposal follows an earlier attempt launched in 2010 by RER Hydro, a company also led by Imad Hamad. That initial effort placed a first-generation turbine at the same Old Port site, operating and feeding electricity into the grid from 2010 to 2013 before the company ultimately entered bankruptcy in 2014. The earlier machine featured a planned capacity of 100 kilowatts—one-fifth the output planned for each new ARECOR device.

Drawing on four years of operational data from that pilot, ARECOR redesigned its third-generation turbine to address underwater maintenance challenges. The new model incorporates magnetic bearings, which allow internal parts to rotate without direct surface contact. According to Hamad, removing oil-lubricated friction points eliminates wear and tear, significantly reducing the need for costly riverbed repairs.

Economic and Ecological Scrutiny From Analysts and Regulators

Despite technological updates, energy analysts question the commercial viability and overall impact of riverbed hydrokinetic power in Quebec. Jean-Pierre Finet, an analyst and spokesperson for the Regroupement des organismes environnementaux en énergie, pointed out that larger-capacity systems have yet to prove cost-effective beyond small-scale demonstrations. Finet noted that maintaining submerged machinery remains expensive, particularly when debris or mud interferes with moving parts, often requiring specialized vessels and crews for inspections.

Scale remains a central debate point. Finet observed that against Quebec’s total installed generating capacity of approximately 40,000 megawatts, the one megawatt covered by Hydro-Québec’s agreement represents a marginal contribution to the broader energy transition. While Hamad projects a 40-year lifespan before major maintenance on the new turbines, Finet countered that such claims are premature given the lack of pilot data for the new design.

Aquatic safety also remains under review. While the turbines rest on the riverbed rather than blocking the channel, Finet warned that the machinery could disorient fish populations. In response, Hamad cited monitoring studies commissioned during the earlier RER project, which indicated a 0.3 per cent probability of affecting fish life, describing the risk as negligible. Federal regulators, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Port of Montreal, will evaluate these environmental effects as permit renewals proceed.

Montreal Municipal Stance and Next Steps for Permitting

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has adopted a neutral stance, stating that the project raises numerous questions regarding placement, installation methods, and environmental impacts. At a July press conference, she questioned whether Quebec requires an alternative method for harnessing St. Lawrence power given its existing hydroelectric resources, adding that the proposal is not currently an administration priority.

ARECOR has initiated the permit renewal process with federal agencies, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Port of Montreal, and anticipates no procedural delays. The upcoming regulatory reviews will ultimately determine whether the redesigned underwater turbines can overcome the economic and environmental hurdles that ended the previous decade’s attempt.